Artist Scott LoBaido's depiction of a giant flag takes shape on the roof of the Lamons Gasket Co., near Hobby Airport. He began painting June 14 and set July 4th as his deadline.

Artist Scott LoBaido's depiction of a giant flag takes shape on the roof of the Lamons Gasket Co., near Hobby Airport. He began painting June 14 and set July 4th as his deadline.

Photo: KHOU.COM

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Artist Scott LoBaido had prepared himself for Houston's heat and humidity but hadn't counted on rain from a hurricane.

Artist Scott LoBaido had prepared himself for Houston's heat and humidity but hadn't counted on rain from a hurricane.

Photo: Karen Warren, Chronicle

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Scott LoBaido, center, chose the roof of the Lamons Gasket Co. for his painting because of the firm's diversity and location — near Hobby Airport. Lamons has supplied a crew of helpers, one of whom is company president Kurt Allen, a native of the U.K. less

Scott LoBaido, center, chose the roof of the Lamons Gasket Co. for his painting because of the firm's diversity and location — near Hobby Airport. Lamons has supplied a crew of helpers, one of whom is ... more

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"I want people to fall back in love with America," the artist said. "I just saw our nation start to become divided and knew I had to do something."

Work on the nearly 3.5-acre painting started on Flag Day, June 14. Lamons assembled a handful of temporary employees to help LoBaido with the project, and even the company's president, Kurt Allen, got up on the roof to wield a paint roller.

"America is the best place to live, and I've been to over 40 countries," said Allen, who's from the United Kingdom. "When I heard about this, I told Scott that whatever it takes, we would help. I'll be up there on Sunday, too, helping him finish this."

While LoBaido considered several locations for the painting, he said Lamons' was best because of its diverse work force, which includes people from more than 23 countries, and because of its building's close proximity to the airport.

"A woman e-mailed me to tell me that her son was flying in this weekend," LoBaido said. "He's going to see this gift for him and all the other troops, and that's why I'm doing this."

Using only 9-inch rollers and an estimated 900 gallons of paint, LoBaido called the project his "gigantic birthday gift" to America.

"I'm out of my mind to be on a metal roof in Houston, Texas, in June," he said. "The last thing I'm going to do, though, is cower. There's just no comparison to what those soldiers do."

In 2006, LoBaido traveled nationwide to paint Old Glory on roofs in all 50 states. The flag he did then for Texas is in Fort Worth.

LoBaido said he is looking forward to muscling his way to a front-row seat to Houston's fireworks display tonight.

"I want to feel the thunder inside me," he said. "I'll have my iPod and The Battle Hymn of the Republic playing. Tears streaming and everything. You can't explain it.

"Wait. No. This is how I explain it," he said, pointing above him to the roof.